Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against K Jaga Jyothi, a 48-year-old executive engineer from the tribal welfare department, following an investigation into corruption allegations. The officer, currently under suspension, faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The investigation stems from a trap laid by the ACB on Feb 19, 2024, when Jyothi was caught red-handed accepting an alleged bribe of 84,000 from a contractor, Bodukam Ganganna. The bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for processing a bill related to a construction project in Gajularamaram.
During the subsequent investigation, ACB officials had conducted a search of the accused officer’s residence in Hyderabad. A sum of 65.5 lakh cash was discovered, with neither Jyothi nor her husband, K Arthur Praveen Babu, providing valid explanations for its source. Initially, Praveen Babu claimed the amount was from salary savings but later gave conflicting statements, raising further suspicion.
A detailed report was submitted to the director general, ACB, based on which permission was granted to register a case against the accused officer. The case accuses Jyothi of possessing assets disproportionate (DA) to her known sources of income and misusing her official position.
The seized amount and related evidence were now part of the investigation, which seeks to uncover the extent of irregularities during her tenure. Initially, it was said that four kg of gold was also found in her possession. However, the latest ACB FIR doesn’t mention it. When she was caught red-handed, Jyothi’s video of weeping went viral on social media. ACB would now investigate the DA case.
